Methods for producing maple sap water

Abstract

A method for producing a beverage product from maple sap. The sugar content of the maple sap is modified to a predetermined level and the resulting beverage is subjected to high pressure in order to sanitize the beverage without fouling the taste. Frozen storage techniques are applied in order to allow the beverage to be sold year-round.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a maple beverage, comprising:
 acquiring maple sap;   modifying a water content of the maple sap in order to produce a maple beverage product with a sugar content at a predetermined level;   applying high pressure processing to the maple beverage product; and   freezing the maple beverage product and storing the frozen maple beverage product;   wherein the maple sap and the maple beverage product are maintained at temperatures below 100° C. during production.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the maple beverage product is frozen and stored before high pressure processing is applied. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein high pressure processing is applied before the maple beverage product is frozen and stored. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined level is between 2.5% and 5% sugar content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined level is between 3% and 3.3% sugar content. 
     
     
         6 . A method for producing a maple beverage, comprising:
 acquiring maple sap;   removing water from the maple sap in order to produce a dehydrated maple sap product;   freezing the dehydrated maple sap product and storing the frozen dehydrated maple sap product;   after freezing and storing the dehydrated maple sap product, thawing the dehydrated maple sap product;   after thawing the dehydrated maple sap product, modifying a water content of the maple sap product in order to produce a maple beverage product with a sugar content at a predetermined level;   applying high pressure processing to the maple beverage product;   wherein the maple sap, the dehydrated maple sap product, and the maple beverage product are maintained at temperatures below 100° C. during production.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined level is between 2.5% and 5% sugar content. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined level is between 3% and 3.3% sugar content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 storing the water removed from the maple sap;   wherein modifying a water content of the maple sap product comprises adding water to the maple sap product that was previously removed from maple sap and stored.   
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a maple beverage, comprising:
 acquiring maple sap;   freezing the acquired maple sap;   partially thawing the frozen maple sap in order to produce a maple beverage product with a sugar content at a predetermined level; and   applying high pressure processing to the maple beverage product;   wherein the maple sap and the maple beverage product are maintained at temperatures below 100° C. during production.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined level is between 2.5% and 5% sugar content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined level is approximately 3% and 3.3% sugar content.